Question

read the passage from \first joint debate ottawa,\ a speech by abraham lincoln. my fellow - citizens: when a man hears himself somewhat misrepresented, it provokes him,—at least, i find it so with myself; but when misrepresentation becomes very gross and palpable, it is more apt to amuse him. what is the closest meaning of the underlined phrase as it is used in the excerpt? widely accepted emotionally disturbing obviously exaggerated extremely humorous

Explanation:

The phrase "very gross and palpable" in the context implies something that is extremely obvious. When a misrepresentation is so clear - cut, it can be amusing. "Obviously exaggerated" doesn't convey the same sense of clarity and grossness. "Emotionally disturbing" and "widely accepted" are not related to the meaning of being clear - cut and likely to amuse due to its obviousness. "Extremely humorous" is not the closest in meaning as it focuses on humor rather than the obviousness.

Answer:

obviously exaggerated